Electrical connector



Oct. 9, 1945. ANDERSEN 2,386,177

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed April 25, 1942 -2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Filed April 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m n w 0V n ON 0.

om w WW NW Patented Oct. 9, 1945 OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Johan M. Andersen, Hopkinton, Mass.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a multiple wire electrical connector.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved multiple wire electrical connector provided with two groups of terminals spaced apart, one group of terminals being adapted for cooperation with the second group of corresponding terminals of an identical multiple wire connector, whereby one connector may comprise an exact counterpart of a cooperating connector.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the multiple wire electrical connector and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of identical multiple wire connectors embodying the present invention; Fig. 2

Application April 25, 1942, Serial No. 440,503

is a side elevation of a pair of multiple wire connectors comprising like counterparts shown joined together; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of a multiple wire connector; Fig. 4 is an end view of the multiple wire connector shown in Fig. -3; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a cable comprising a plurality of conductors and showing an identical multiple wire connector at either end thereof.

In general the present invention contemplates an improved multiple wire electrical connector provided with two groups of terminals spaced apart, one group of terminals being adapted for cooperation with the second group of corresponding terminals of an identical multiple wire connector. As herein shown the terminals may comprise a group of male termin: ls and a group of female terminals preferably symmetrically arranged in a cylindrical base member, each group of terminals being ada ted to be engaged by the terminals of a second and identical connector.

The present multiple wire connectors are also preferably provided with hollow protective insulating sleeves for each group of terminals, the sleeve formed about one group of terminals being arranged to telescope with relation to the sleeve formed about the cooperating terminals of a second and identical connector, thus providing substantial insulating protection for the connector. Provision is also made in the present construction of multiple wire connector for effecting a water tight connection with a like counterpart, and a locking device may also be provided in order to prevent inadvertent separation of the connector units as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrated multiple wire connector comprises an insulating base portion Ill, herein shown as cylindrical in form, and having mounted therein and projecting therefrom two cooperating groups of terminals herein shown as including a group of male terminals l2 and a group of female terminals l4, each group being symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis of the cylindrical base member. The individual male and female terminals I 2, M which assume corresponding positions in the connectors are preferably aligned to form pairs, and, as herein shown, each pair of terminals, which are similarly numbered as shown in Fig. 4, may be connected in parallel to form a plurality of single poles for connection to individual conductors l6.

Each group of terminals is provided with a hollow protective insulating sleeve herein .shown as semi-cylindrical in form, the group of male terminals I2 being provided with a sleeve l8 and the group of female terminals being provided with a sleeve 20, each sleeve being arranged to extend beyond its respective group of terminals as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Each sleeve is preferably formed integrally with the insulated base portion In and, in practice, the insulating sleeves I8, 20 of two identical connectors are arranged to telescope, and, as herein shown, the hollow insulating sleeve l8 about the group of male terminals I2 is made of a, size such as to fit within the hollow sleeve 20 formed about the female terminals M of a second and identical connector. It will be observed that in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the base line or chord 22 of the semi-cylindrical sleeve 20 preferably corresponds substantially to a diametral dividing line, so that when two like counterparts are joined together, as shown in Fig. 2, the base portions 22 of like counterparts butt together, the sleeves forming with each other a continuous cylindrical surface.

The sleeves I8, 20 may and preferably will be slightly tapered with relation to each other to form a relatively tight and substantially waterproof joint, and in order to further increase the protection against moisture, a washer or gasket 24 may be provided in the lower end of the sleeve 20 with which the top of the sleeve l8 of a second and identical connector engages when in assembled relation.

From the description thus far it will be seen that with the present construction, when two identical connectors or like counterparts are joined together in assembled relation, the male terminals l2 are engaged by the female terminals ll of like counterparts and the hollow sleeves ID are received within the sleeves 20 of like counterparts whereby to provide emcient connections at the terminals and to provide a maximum of insulating protection about the terminals. The oylindrical base portion "land the insulating sleeves i8, 20 may and preferably will be moulded integrally from any suitable commercially available insulating material such as Bakelite."

A suitable handle or holder 26 may be provided for the connector and, as herein shown, the insulating base It! is threaded at one end to be received by an interiorly threaded portion 28 of the handle 26. The inner end of the interiorly threaded portion of the handle may and preferably will be provided with a beveled shoulder 80 against which the end of the insulated base l having a cooperating beveled portion is arranged to seat to form a substantially water tight joint. The other end of the handle is reduced in diameter and is exteriorly threaded to receive a cable connection 82 which may be provided with a rubber washer 34 to form a water tight connection.

Provision is also made for locking the connectors together to prevent inadvertent separation thereof. This may be accomplished by any convenient form of locking mechanism and, as herein shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each connector is provided with an annular member 38 adapted to be received between a shouldered portion 38 of the cylindrical base portion and the end of the handle 26, as best shown in Fig. 3. The annular member is arranged to be rotated about the connector, and, as herein shown, each annular member 36 is provided with a hook member 40 secured thereto and a grooved portion 42 diametrically opposite the hook member. In operation, rotation of the annular member 36 will effect engagement of a hook member 40 in the groove 42 of its counterpart, or the removal of the same therefrom, the parts being shown lockedin Fig. 2.

From the above description it will be observed that the present multiple wire electrical connector may be provided upon each'end of a cable, and, being like counterparts, either connector may be inserted into a similar outlet'or other point of attachment. Although aligned pairs of terminals of each group have been herein illustrated and described as being connected in parallel to form a single pole, it will be understood that each terminal may form a separate pole if desired. While the present invention has been illustrated as provided with terminals comprising plug and socket members, it is not desired to limit the invention in this respect, as other forms of cooperable terminals may be used.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

l. A multiple wire electrical cable connecting device comprising: a pair of connectors, each of said connectors including a substantially circular insulating base; a plurality of terminals carried by one base engageable with terminals on the other base, one end of each of said insulating bases being reduced in diameter and threaded, said reduced portions terminating in a shoulder intermediate the ends of said bases; a pair of hollow cylindrical holders, one of said insulating bases being threadedly mounted in one end of each of said cylindrical holders; and a rotatable annular ring member disposed between said shoulders and the adjacent end 01 each of said cylindrical holders, said annular ring members carrying locking means for securing said connectors in assembled relation.

2. A multiple wire electrical cable connecting device comprising: a pair of connectors, each of said connectors including a substantially circular insulating base; a plurality of terminals carried by one base engageable with terminals on the other base, one end of each of said insulating bases being reduced in diameter and threaded, said reduced portions terminating in a shoulder intermediate the ends of said bases; a pair of hollow cylindrical holders, one of said insulating bases being threadedly mounted in one end of each of said cylindrical holders; and a rotatable annular ring member disposed between said shoulders and the adjacent end of each of said cylindrical holders, said annular ring members carrying locking means for securing said connectors in assembled relation, said locking means including a hooked prong extending longitudinally from the annular ring member at one point and having a recess diametrically opposite theprong.

J CHAN M. ANDERSEN. 

